Stud bracing for metal studs

ABSTRACT

A bracing assembly for use between adjacent channel-shaped sheet metal studs of the type having generally cruciform openings formed through the bight portions thereof. The bracing assembly includes a pair of end aligned bracing members with adjacent ends thereof being releasably engaged with each other and including endwise outwardly facing abutment surfaces for opposing remote sides of an associated sheet metal stud bight portion through which an extended end portion of one of the brace members extends.

United States Patent [191 Soucy [4 1 Dec. 18,1973

[ STUD BRACING FOR METAL STUDS [76] Inventor: Eugene H. Soucy, 16 Richard St.,

West Hartford, Conn. 061 19 [22] Filed: May 5, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 250,813

[52] US. Cl 52/667, 52/696, 52/714, 52/720, 287/64, 287/103 [51] Int. Cl. 1. E04c 2/42 [58] Field of Search 287/64, 97, 103; 46/28; 52/317, 321, 241, 488, 667, 696, 714,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1910 De Amond 52/348 7/1946 Nesson 287/103 R 734,781 7/1903 Walker et a1. 52/349 Primary Examiner-Alfred C. Perham Attorney-Harvey B. Jacobson 57 ABSTRACT A bracing assembly for use between adjacent channelshaped sheet metal studs of the type having generally cruciform openings formed through the bight portions thereof. The bracing assembly includes a pair of end aligned bracing members with adjacent ends thereof being releasably engaged with each other and including endwise outwardly facing abutment surfaces for opposing remote sides of an associated sheet metal stud bight portion through which an extended end portion of one of the brace members extends.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures l I I l l l I I I I k r I I r I I i I I ll I jhnm M nnn M FIG-l w. 2 H 3 a w a m 7 PMENTEU DEC 18 I975 STUD BRACING FOR METAL STUDS The stud bracing assembly of the instant invention has been specifically designed for use in conjunction with sheet metal studs of the type which are generally channel-shaped in cross section and have generally cruciform openings formed through the bight portions thereof. These sheet metal studs are used in various locations and particularly in forming non-load bearing partition walls within commercial buildings. The studs have cruciform openings formed in and spaced along the bight portions thereof and the bracing assembly of the instant invention is constructed in a manner whereby interlocking engagement between adjacent stud bracing members on opposite sides of an associated stud and the stud may be effected.

The main object of this invention is to provide a bracing assembly for sheet metal studs whereby a more rigid framework for a partition wall having sheet metal studs is provided.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a bracing assembly which may be readily removably engaged between adjacent studs.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a stud bracing assembly in accordance with the preceding object and which may be constructed from heavy gauge sheet material.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a stud bracing assembly that may be constructed of various lengths so as to be adapted to establish bracing between studs placed on different centers.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a stud bracing assembly which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a plurality of vertical studding members of a wall framework with two vertically spaced courses of brace members constructed in accordance with the present invention operatively associated with the stud members;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the bracing members of the stud bracing assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a pair of adjacent ends of the brace members which comprise the bracing assembly of the instant invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates a wall framing assembly and more specifically to a framing assembly to be utilized in the construction of a partition wall. The assembly 10 includes a plurality of upstanding channelshaped metal studs 12 of conventional design arranged on 16 inch centers and bridged at their upper ends by means ofa header member 14. The header member 14 is also of conventional design. It may be seen from FIG. 2 of the drawings that each of the studs 12 comprises a channel-shaped member including parallel opposite side flanges 16 interconnected along corresponding edge portions by means of a bight portion 18 extending therebetween. The free marginal edge portions of the flanges 16 terminate in inwardly directed flanges 20 and the bight portion of each stud 12 includes a plurality of vertically spaced cruciform openings 22. The cruciform openings 22 include narrow upper and lower portions 24 and 26 and relatively wide central portions 28.

The aforementioned frame or framing assembly 10 is presently utilized in the construction of partition walls with sheet rock panels or the like secured to opposite sides of the framing assembly 10 in any conventional manner.

In order to form a more rigid framing assembly a bracing assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 30 and comprising the subject matter of the present invention is utilized. The bracing assembly 30 consists of vertically spaced courses of longitudinally aligned bracing members 32 and the effective length of each bracing member 32 is 16 inches whereby when the bracing assembly is utilized in conjunction with the studs 12 the latter will be automatically disposed on 16 inch centers.

Each of the bracing members 32 comprises an elongated sheet metal bar 34 including a transversely enlarged bifurcated end 36 on one end and a T'shaped extension 38 on the other end. Each bifurcated end includes a pair of lengthwise extending furcations 40 whose terminal ends are bent downwardly to form depending legs 42. Each T-shaped extension 38 includes a short longitudinally extending base leg 44 of reduced transverse width and a downwardly directed crosshead or abutment flange 46.

The width of each base leg 44 is slightly less than the spacing between each pair of corresponding furcations 40 and the length of each leg 44 is slightly greater than the combined thickness of one of the legs 42 and an associated bight portion 18.

As can best be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings, the brace members 32 are positioned in end aligned position in each course of brace members with the crosshead or abutment flange portion 46 of each bar 34 passed through the central portion 28 of the corresponding opening 22 andthe associated end of the bar 34 thereafter displaced downwardly so that the leg 44 is seated in the lower portion 26 of the corresponding opening 22. It will of course be appreciated that each crosshead or abutment flange 46 is of a width slightly less than the width of the central portion 28 of each opening 22 and the width of each leg 44 is slightly less than the width of the lower portion 26 of the corresponding opening 22. Thereafter, with the shoulders 50 abutted against portion 18, the adjacent bifurcated end of the adjacent bar 34 is lowered so that the legs 42 thereof are received between the crosshead or abutment flange 46 and the opposing side of thebight portion 18. This same interconnection between adjacent brace members 32 is repeated at each stud 12 and a plurality of courses of brace members 32 may be spaced along adjacent studs 12.

If desired, the brace members of adjacent courses of brace members may be reversed in end-to-end relation whereby at least every other course of brace members may be engaged with the endmost stud 12 at the opposite ends of the frame or framing assembly 10.

By utilizing the brace assembly 30 between the studs 12 of the frame assembly 10, the braces serve to keep the studs in place while electricians pull wires through the openings in the studs. In addition, the provision of the brace assembly 30 assists in mounting sheet rock panels securely to the studs and uniform spacing between the studs 12 at predetermined centers is assured.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A bracing assembly for use in forming vertically spaced courses of end aligned braces between upstanding studs, said bracing assembly including a plurality of end aligned and engageable brace members, each of said brace members including an elongated body having a reduced width lengthwise extension on one end terminating outwardly in a crosshead of a greater width than said reduced width extension and a bifurcated end of increased width on the other end including a pair of lengthwise extending transversely spaced apart legs whose free ends are turned downwardly, the spacing between each pair of legs being slightly greater than the width of said extension, the width of the crosshead being at least slightly greater than the spacing between said legs and the length of the extension being greater than the thickness of the downturned end portions of the legs of the bifurcated end.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said body is panel-like in configuration and horizontally disposed, said bifurcated end, extension and crosshead being formed integrally with said body.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said brace member is constructed of sheet metal.

4. The combination of claim 1 including a partition framework consisting of a plurality of aligned upstanding studs having aligned horizontal openings formed therein including wide upper portions and narrow lower portions, the width of the upper portions of said openings being slightly greater than the width of said crosshead, the width of the lower portion of each opening being slightly greater than the width of said extension, whereby one of said brace members may have its crosshead inserted through the central portion of one of said cruciform openings and the brace member may thereafter be displaced downwardly with the extension thereof extending through the lower portion of said cruciform opening, the length of said extension being slightly greater than the sum of the thickness of the portion of the stud in which the opening is formed and the thickness of the legs of the bifurcated end portion of the brace member, whereby the bifurcated end of an adjacent brace member may have the downturned legs thereof engaged between the stud and the crosshead of the first-mentioned brace member.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said crosshead comprises a downturned flange carried by the terminal end of said extension. 

1. A bracing assembly for use in forming vertically spaced courses of end aligned braces between upstanding studs, said bracing assembly including a plurality of end aligned and engageable brace members, each of said brace members including an elongated body having a reduced width lengthwise extension on one end terminating outwardly in a crosshead of a greater width than said reduced width extension and a bifurcated end of increased width on the other end including a pair of lengthwise extending transversely spaced apart legs whose free ends are turned downwardly, the spacing between each pair of legs being slightly greater than the width of said extension, the width of the crosshead being at least slightly greater than the spacing between said legs and the length of the extension being greater than the thickness of the downturned end portions of the legs of the bifurcated end.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said body is panel-like in configuration and horizontally disposed, said bifurcated end, extension and crosshead being formed integrally with said body.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said brace member is constructed of sheet metal.
 4. The combination of claim 1 including a partition framework consisting of a plurality of aligned upstanding studs having aligned horizontal openings formed therein including wide upper portions and narrow lower portions, the width of the upper portions of said openings being slightly greater than the width of said crosshead, the width of the lower portion of each opening being slightly greater than the width of said extension, whereby one of said brace members may have its crosshead inserted through the central portion of one of said cruciform openings and the brace member may thereafter be displaced downwardly with the extension thereof extending through the lower portion of said cruciform opening, the length of said extension being slightly greater than the sum of the thickness of the portion of the stud in which the opening is formed and the thickness of the legs of the bifurcated end portion of the brace member, whereby the bifurcated end of an adjacent brace member may have the downturned legs thereof engaged between the stud and the crosshead of the first-mentioned brace member.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said crosshead comprises a downturned flange carried by the terminal end of said extension. 